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Government Shutdown?

What a Shutdown Could Mean to UsBased on history, here is how a Government shutdown might impact
government-provided public services.

Social Security: Checks will probably keep coming, but no new
applications would be accepted or processed.

Welfare: Again, the checks would continue, but new Food Stamps
might not be issued.

Mail: The U.S. Postal Service supports itself, so mail deliveries
would continue as usual.

National Defense: All active duty members of all branches of all
armed services would continue duty as usual. More than half of the Defense Department's
860,000+ civilian employees would also work.

Justice System: Federal courts should be open. Criminals will
still be chased, caught, prosecuted and thrown in Federal prisons, which would still be
operating.

Farms/USDA: Food safety inspections will probably continue, but
rural development, and farm credit and loan program will probably close down.

Transportation: Air traffic control, safety personnel, and the
Coast Guard will remain on the job.

National Parks/Tourism: Parks and forests will be open, but
visitor and interpretive centers will be closed. Non-volunteer rescue and fire control
services might be shut down. National monuments and most historic sites will be closed.

Current Status
of the 13 Appropriations Bills
All 13 bills will have to become Public Laws (P.L.) before the FY 2000 federal budget is
approved. As of the end of the day on Friday, October 22, six bills have made it, but the
President has vetoed two others.